Stand for home appliance

ABSTRACT

Stand including a stand body of a predetermined height having an opening in one side, a drawer for pushing in or pulling out through the opening in the stand body to open/close the opening, a guide device for smooth pushing in/pulling out of the drawer, and a self locking device for automatic locking of the drawer when the drawer is inserted in the stand more than a certain depth, and preventing slipping out of the drawer even if the stand is tilted.

[0001] This application claims the benefit of the Korean ApplicationNos. P2003-0042956 filed on Jun. 28, 2003, and P2003-0046032 filed onJul. 8, 2003, which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to stands for supporting objects ata required height, and more particularly, to a stand for a homeappliance in which things can be kept.

[0004] 2. Background of the Related Art

[0005] In general, a drum type washing machine washes laundry by usingfriction between a drum rotated by a motor and the laundry, and chemicalaction of detergent in a state the detergent, washing water, and thelaundry are introduced into the drum, shows no entangling of thelaundry, and has a washing effect of pounding and rubbing the laundry.

[0006] The drum type washing machine is provided with a cabinet havingan opening in a front for introduction/taking out the laundry. Thecabinet, substantially hexahedral, forms an exterior of the drum typewashing machine, and has a control panel, and a door for opening/closingthe opening for introduction/taking out the laundry therethrough on thefront.

[0007] Meanwhile, since opening for introduction/taking out the laundryof the drum washing machine is positioned low, the user is required tobend for introduction or taking out the laundry of the drum type washingmachine. For eliminating the inconvenience of bending, a stand for thewashing machine is developed for supporting the drum type washingmachine at a predetermined height.

[0008]FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a related art drum typewashing machine, and a related art washing machine stand under the drumtype washing machine for supporting the drum type washing machine at apredetermined height, schematically.

[0009] Referring to FIG. 1, the related art washing machine stand 20 isprovided with a front panel, side panels connected to opposite edges ofthe front panel at right angles, and a rear panel having opposite edgesconnected to rear edges of the side panels, respectively.

[0010] A horizontal area of the washing machine stand is similar to abottom area of the drum type washing machine, and has a supporting plate21 at a top of each corner where adjacent panels are connected to eachother, for placing a leg 11 of the drum type washing machine. There is astand leg 22 on an underside of the stand 20, in more detail, on abottom of each corner where adjacent panels are connected to each other,having a height adjustable bolt structure.

[0011] However, the related art washing machine stand has the followingproblems.

[0012] First, the related art washing machine stand simply supports theunderside of the drum type washing machine at a predetermined height,but fails to use an inside space thereof.

[0013] Second, for supporting a drum type washing machine or a laundrydryer having different positions of legs, the related art washingmachine stand is required to have different positions of the supportingplates for seating the legs.

[0014] Third, since the supporting plate of the related art washingmachine just seats, but not holds the leg of the drum type washingmachine, the leg of the drum type washing machine is liable to come offthe supporting plate from vibration occurred during operation of thedrum type washing machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a stand for ahome appliance that substantially obviates one or more of the problemsdue to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

[0016] An object of the present invention is to provide a stand forsupporting an object at a height, and having a drawer for using aninside space.

[0017] Other object of the present invention is to provide a stand whichcan be used in supporting one of objects with different leg positions,such as a drum type washing machine, or a laundry dryer.

[0018] Another object of the present invention is to provide a standwhich automatically locks a drawer if the drawer is inserted more than adepth into an inside of the stand, and prevents slipping out of thedrawer even if the stand is tilted.

[0019] Additional features and advantages of the invention will be setforth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent tothose having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the followingor may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives andother advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by thestructure particularly pointed out in the written description and claimshereof as well as the appended drawings.

[0020] To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordancewith the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadlydescribed herein, the stand includes a stand body of a predeterminedheight having an opening in one side, and a drawer for pushing in orpulling out through the opening in the stand body to open/close theopening.

[0021] The drawer includes a drawer body having a receiving space formedtherein, a front cover that is a front of the drawer body for coveringthe opening of the stand body when the drawer body is pushed in, and ahandle provided to the front cover.

[0022] The front cover has a recess form in rear of the handle at apredetermined depth.

[0023] The handle includes a front part that is a front of the handle,and a rear part in rear of the front part.

[0024] The handle is fastened to the front cover with fasteningprojections each having an axial direction hole with a thread formedtherein projected from a rear surface of the handle to backward, andpass through hole passed through a front and a rear surfaces of thefront cover to insert the fastening projections therein, and fasten.

[0025] The handle includes one pair of seating parts projected backwardfrom opposite sides of an upper surface thereof, and the front coverincludes one pair of seating recesses in opposite sides of an uppersurface of the front cover for seating the one pair of seating parts.

[0026] The handle includes a fixing projection of a predetermined sizeprojected backward from each of the seating parts, and the front coverincludes a fixing hole in a rear wall of each of the seating recesses ofthe front cover for inserting the fixing projection.

[0027] The stand further includes a guide device for guiding the drawerto push in or pull out the drawer smoothly.

[0028] The guide device includes a supporting guide mounted on oppositeinside surfaces of the stand body in a pulling out/pushing in directionof the drawer, a pulling out/pushing in guide mounted on oppositeoutside walls of the drawer body in the pulling out/pushing in directionof the drawer, and rolling means for minimizing friction between thesupporting guide and the pulling out/pushing guide, to make the pullingout/pushing of the drawer smooth.

[0029] The supporting guide has a bar form, and the pulling out/pushingin guide has a groove for inserting the supporting guide.

[0030] The pulling out/pushing in guide has a bar form, and thesupporting guide has a groove for inserting pulling out/pushing inguide.

[0031] The rolling means includes rolling members between the supportingguide and the pulling out/pushing in guide, and a rolling membersupporting part for rotatably supporting the rolling members. Therolling member includes a ball or a roller.

[0032] The rolling member supporting part is fixed to the pullingout/pushing in guide.

[0033] The stand further includes a self locking device for automaticclosure and holding the drawer if the drawer is pushed in the stand bodymore than a certain depth, and maintaining a holding state of the drawerunless an external force higher a certain level is not applied thereto.

[0034] The self locking device includes a holding member fitted to thesupporting guide, and a hook assembly fitted to the pulling out/pushingin guide for engagement with the holding member if the drawer is pushedin the stand body more than a certain depth, to close the drawerautomatically, and disengagement from the holding member to open thedrawer smoothly if the drawer is pulled out with an external forcehigher than a certain level applied for pulling out the drawer.

[0035] The holding member is fitted to a rear portion of the supportingguide, and the hook assembly is fitted to a rear portion of the pullingout/pushing in guide to align with the holding member when the drawer isclosed fully.

[0036] The hook assembly includes a hook part for engagement with theholding member when the drawer is pushed in the stand body more than acertain depth, and disengagement from the holding member when anexternal force higher than a certain level is applied thereto forpulling out the drawer, a hook guide part for guiding movement of thehook part in a state the hook part is engaged with the holding member,and guiding the hook part to disengage from the holding member when thedrawer is pulled out more than a certain distance, and an elastic partconnected between the hook part and the hook guide part, for applying arestoring force to the hook part to close the drawer automatically ifthe hook part is engaged with the holding member following pushing in ofthe drawer in the stand body to make the hook part to engage with theholding member.

[0037] The hook guide part includes a first guide slot extended in thepulling out/pushing in direction of the drawer, a second guide slotparallel to the first guide slot, having a rear end extended more than apredetermined length longer than the rear end of the first guide slot,and a third guide slot vertically extended from the rear end of thesecond guide slot toward the first guide slot, and the hook partincludes a first pin movable along the first guide slot, and a secondpin movable along the second guide slot or the third guide slot.

[0038] The hook guide part further includes a projection from an insidecorner where the second guide slot and the third guide slot meet, forengagement of the hook part therewith when the drawer is pulled out morethan a certain distance to disengage the hook part from the holdingmember.

[0039] The elastic part is a spring having one end connected to a firstpin of the hook part, and the other end connected to a front end of thefirst guide slot.

[0040] The stand body includes leg seating members at respective cornersof an upper surface thereof for seating legs of an object to besupported by the stand body.

[0041] The stand body is applicable to other object with legs havingdistances of legs shorter than the object.

[0042] The leg seating member includes a first seating hole for seatinga leg of a washing machine, and a second seating hole for seating a legof a laundry dryer having legs with distances shorter than distances ofthe legs of the washing machine.

[0043] The second seating hole is overlapped with a part of the firstseating hole or spaced a distance apart therefrom.

[0044] The stand body includes height adjustable leg assemblies each isprovided to an underside surface of the stand body.

[0045] The leg assembly includes a leg bolt having a screw part with athread on an outside circumferential surface for fastening to a lowerpart of the stand body, and a bolt head at a lower end of the screwpart, a damping member of a soft material having an upper surface inclose contact with the bolt head and a lower surface in contact with afloor where the stand stands thereon, and a holder for holding thedamping member and the bolt head together.

[0046] The bolt head includes a polygonal upper head part formed as oneunit with, and at a lower end of, the screw part, and a circular lowerhead part formed as one unit with, and under, the upper head part.

[0047] The damping member is fastened to the lower head part forpreventing relative rotation with respect to the leg bolt.

[0048] The holder is substantially annular with passed through top andbottom, for pressing an upper surface of an edge of the lower head partand an underside surface of an edge of the damping member from an upperside and a lower side respectively, and holding the lower head part andthe damping member together, when the lower part of the damping memberis projected downward through the passed through lower part.

[0049] The holder includes an annular holder body with passed throughtop and bottom for holding outside circumferences of the lower head partand the damping member, a lower holding part having an outsidecircumferential surface connected to an inside circumferential surfaceof a bottom end of the holder body, to support an underside surface ofthe damping member, and an opening in a central part for pass through ofthe lower part of the damping member, and an upper holding partprojected from an upper inside circumferential surface of the holderbody toward a center, for holding an upper surface of an edge of thelower head part, having a distance from an upper surface of the lowerholding part to an underside surface smaller than a sum of a thicknessof the edge of the damping member and a thickness of the edge of thelower head part.

[0050] The upper holding part includes a plurality of hooks at regularintervals in a circumferential direction.

[0051] The lower holding part includes a plurality of cut away openingsunder the hooks respectively.

[0052] The holder and the leg bolt are formed not to make relativerotation.

[0053] The holder includes holder rotation prevention projections in aninside surface thereof, and the bolt head includes holder rotationprevention grooves on an outside surface thereof for inserting theholder rotation prevention projections therein.

[0054] The holder is formed of non-soft material, and has a polygonaloutside circumferential surface.

[0055] The stand body includes reinforcing members at opposite sides ofthe opening for supporting a load of the object supported by the standbody.

[0056] It is to be understood that both the foregoing description andthe following detailed description of the present invention areexemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide furtherexplanation of the invention claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0057] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide afurther understanding of the invention and are incorporated in andconstitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of theinvention and together with the description serve to explain theprinciple of the invention.

[0058] In the drawings;

[0059]FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a related art drum typewashing machine, and a related art washing machine stand;

[0060]FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a related art drum typewashing machine, and a washing machine stand in accordance with apreferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0061]FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of an upper part of awashing machine stand in accordance with a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention;

[0062]FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of a stand body of a washingmachine stand in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, with a partial cut away view;

[0063]FIG. 5 illustrates a front view of a leg assembly of a washingmachine stand in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, with a partial cut away view;

[0064]FIG. 6 illustrates a bottom view of a leg assembly of a washingmachine stand in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0065]FIG. 7 illustrates a front disassembled view of a leg assembly ofa washing machine stand in accordance with a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, with a partial cut away view;

[0066]FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of a drawer of a washingmachine stand in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0067]FIG. 9 illustrates a disassembled perspective view of the drawerin FIG. 8;

[0068]FIG. 10 illustrates a partial enlarged perspective view of “A”part in FIG. 9;

[0069]FIG. 11 illustrates a diagram of a guide device and a self lockingdevice for pulling out/pushing in a drawer of a washing machine stand inaccordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0070]FIG. 12 illustrates an enlarged view of “B” part in FIG. 11;

[0071]FIG. 13 illustrates a section across a line I-I in FIG. 12;

[0072]FIG. 14A illustrates an enlarged view of “C” part in FIG. 11showing a self locking device in a state a drawer is pushed in fully;

[0073]FIG. 14B illustrates an enlarged view of “C” part in FIG. 11showing a self locking device in a state a drawer starts to be pulledout;

[0074]FIG. 14C illustrates an enlarged view of “C” part in FIG. 11showing a self locking device in a state locking of a drawer isreleased.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0075] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodimentsof the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings. In describing the embodiments, identical partswill be given the same names and reference symbols, and repetitivedescription of which will be omitted.

[0076] As one example of stand of the present invention, a washingmachine stand will be described among stands for supporting homeappliances, such as a drum type washing machine.

[0077] Referring to FIGS. 2˜4, the washing machine stand 100 includes ahexahedral stand body 200 having an opening 210 in a front, and a drawer300 for pulling/pushing out/in the stand body 200 through the opening210.

[0078] There is a leg seating member 220 on a top of each corner of thestand body 100 having a first seating hole 221 for seating one of legs(not shown) of a drum type washing machine 50 thereon.

[0079] However, the washing machine stand 100 has a system for seating,not only the drum type washing machine, but also a laundry dryer (notshown) thereon. For this, the leg seating member 220 has a secondseating hole 222 at a position corresponding to a leg position of thelaundry dryer. The second seating hole 222 may overlap with the firstseating hole 221 partly, or spaced away therefrom. In general, since adistance between legs of the laundry dryer is smaller than a distancebetween legs of the drum type washing machine, the second seating holes222 are formed on inner sides of the first seating holes 221 in adiagonal direction of the top of the stand body.

[0080] For seating the drum type washing machine or the laundry dryer,seating recesses (not shown) may be formed in the top of the stand body200 at positions in correspondence to the positions of the legs as oneunit with the stand body 200 without using the leg seating members.

[0081] In addition to this, it is preferable that reinforcing members230 are fitted to opposite sides of the opening 210 of the stand body200 for sustaining a load of the drum type washing machine 50 or thelaundry dryer to be seated on the stand body 200.

[0082] There are fastening holes 240 in opposite sides of the stand body200 for fastening binding members 51 thereto respectively, for fasteningthe drum type washing machine or the laundry dryer to the stand body200.

[0083] In the meantime, there is a height adjustable leg assembly 250 ateach of underside corners of the stand body 200, for supporting thestand body 200.

[0084] Referring to FIGS. 5 to 7, the leg assembly 250 includes a legbolt 253 having a screw part 251 with a thread on an outsidecircumferential surface for fastening to a lower part of the stand body,and a bolt head 252 at a lower end of the screw part 251, a dampingmember 254 of a soft material having an upper surface in close contactwith the bolt head 252 and a lower surface in contact with a floor wherethe stand stands thereon, and a holder 255 for holding the dampingmember 254 and the bolt head 252 together.

[0085] The bolt head 252 includes a polygonal upper head part 252 aformed as one unit with the screw part 251 at a lower end thereof, and acircular lower head part 252 b formed as one unit with, and under, theupper head part having a rotation prevention grooves 252 c in anunderside surface.

[0086] The upper head part 252 a is polygonal for turning with a tool,such as spanner or wrench, or hand, and the lower head part 252 b has alarge diameter compared to the upper head part 252 a.

[0087] The damping member 254, in close contact with an undersidesurface of the lower head part 252 b of the bolt head 252, for dampingvibration or impact transmitted through the leg assembly 250, includesan underside surface to be in contact with a floor where the washingmachine stand is to be placed, a top surface having rotation preventionprojections 254 a for insertion in the rotation prevention grooves 252 crespectively for prevention of relative rotation of the damping memberwith respect to the leg bolt 253, and a circular flange 254 b at anupper circumference in close contact with an underside periphery of thelower head part 252 b, and held by the holder.

[0088] The rotation prevention grooves 252 are in a number the same withthe rotation prevention projections 254 a. It is favorable that aroundfour rotation prevention grooves are formed for prevention of rotation.The rotation prevention groove 252 c in the lower head part may have avariety of forms, such as slots, or circular grooves. It is effectivethat the rotation prevention groove 252 is formed at a predeterminedradial distance from an underside center of the lower head part 252 b inview of rotation prevention of the damping member. Of course, it isevident from above description that the rotation prevention grooves areformed in the upper surface of the damping member, and the rotationprevention projection is formed on the underside surface of the lowerheat part 252 b.

[0089] Next, the holder 255 is substantially annular with passed throughtop and bottom, for pressing an upper surface of an edge of the lowerhead part 252 b and an edge of the damping member 254, i.e., theunderside surface of the flange from an upper side and a lower siderespectively, and holding the lower head part 252 b and the dampingmember 254, together, when the damping member 254 is fastened to theunderside of the lower head part 252 b by the holder 225, and the lowerpart of the damping member 254 is projected downward through thecircular opening 210 formed in a lower part of the holder 255.

[0090] In more detail, the holder 255 includes an annular holder body255 a with passed through top and bottom for holding outsidecircumferences of the lower head part 252 b and the damping member 254,a lower holding part 255 c having an outside circumferential surfaceconnected to an inside circumferential surface of a bottom end of theholder body, to support an underside surface of the flange 254 b of thedamping member, and an opening 255 b in a central part for pass throughof the lower part of the damping member, and an upper holding part 252 bprojected from an upper inside circumferential surface of the holderbody toward a center, for holding an upper surface of an edge of thelower head part 252 b.

[0091] The upper holding part includes a plurality of hooks 255 d formedat regular intervals in a circumferential direction, for easy assemblyof the leg assembly. It is preferable that a distance from an uppersurface of the lower holding part 255 c of the holder 255 to anunderside surface of the hooks 255 d has a dimension smaller than a sumof a thickness of the flange of the damping member 254 and a thicknessof the edge of the lower head part 252 b.

[0092] It is also preferable that the holder 255 has an annularprojection 255 f from a top end of opening of the lower holding part 255c for pressing an inner side of the edge of the underside of the flangeof the damping member 254 and fastening the damping member more firmly.The projection may be a plurality of projections at regular intervals ina circumferential direction.

[0093] It is preferable that the holder 255 has a plurality of cut awayopenings 255 g in parts of the lower holding part under the hooks foreasy fitting of the holder 255, additionally. The cut away openings 255g enables easy fitting of the holder 255 because it is easy to wide openbetween parts where the hooks 255 d are formed.

[0094] In addition to above, the lower head part 252 b of the bolt headhas at least one holder rotation prevention slot along a circumferentialdirection of an outside circumferential surface of the lower head part252 b, and the holder body 255 a has a holder rotation preventionprojection 255 h from an inside circumferential surface of the holderbody 255 a for inserting in the holder rotation prevention slot 252 d.It is preferable that the holder rotation prevention projections 255 hare formed between the hooks 255 d alternately when seen from above.

[0095] It is preferable that the holder 255 is a non-soft member, andthe holder body has an outside circumferential surface chamfered intopolygon, for easy holding, and turning of the holder 255 with a tool,such as spanner, or wrench, or with a hand.

[0096] Above structure enables that the stand 100 can be used for thedrum type washing machine or the laundry dryer as required, because thestand 100 has the leg seating members 220 on an upper surface of each ofcorners of the stand body 200, with seating holes formed at differentpositions to correspond to leg positions of the drum type washingmachine or the laundry dryer.

[0097] Moreover, the height adjustable leg assembly on the underside ofthe stand body 200 enables easy height adjustment to suit to a height ofthe user, as well as easy leveling. Moreover, since the holder 255 has apolygonal structure of a non-soft material, the leg assembly 250prevents slipping when the leg assembly 250 is turned with a hand, andparticularly, fitting or removal of the leg assembly is easy, andworkability for height adjustment is improved because a tool, such as aspanner or a wrench, can be used.

[0098] Next, referring to FIGS. 8˜10, the drawer 300 includes a drawerbody 310 having a receiving space, a front cover 320, a front of thedrawer body 310, for covering the opening of the stand body when pushedin, and a handle 330 on the front cover 320.

[0099] The front cover 320 covers the front of the stand body 200 wherethe opening 210 is formed entirely.

[0100] The handle 330 enables easy pulling out/pushing in of the drawer,and includes a front part 331 of the front of the handle, and a rearpart 332 fastened to a rear of the front part 331 with screws.

[0101] The handle 330 has opposite ends projected to rear when seen fromabove to form a “

”, substantially. In more detail, the handle 330 has one pair of seatingparts 331 a at opposite sides of an upper surface of the front part 331projected to a rear direction for being seated on opposite sides of theupper surface of the front cover 320, a fixing projection 331 bprojected backward from a rear end of each of the seating part 331 a,and one pair of fastening projections 331 c under the one pair of theseating part 331 a, each having a thread in an inside circumference forfastening to the front cover. In correspondence to this, the front cover320 has one pair of seating recesses 321 in an upper surface of oppositesides of the front cover 320 for seating the seating part 331 a, afixing hole 322 in a rear inside wall of each of the seating recesses321 for inserting the fixing projection 331 b, and pass through holes323 in a front of the front cover 320 passed through a front surface anda rear surface of the front cover for inserting the fasteningprojections 331 c and fastening with screws ‘S’.

[0102] It is preferable that the rear part 332 is formed of a materialhaving a strength higher than a predetermined value for reinforcingentire strength of the handle 330.

[0103] For easy holding of the handle 330, there is a recess 320 a of apredetermined depth in rear of the handle 330 in the front surface ofthe front cover 320.

[0104] In more detail, since the handle 330 forms a front exterior ofthe front cover 320, and a middle part of the front cover 320 positionedin rear of the handle 330 is recessed backward for easy holding,preventing the handle 330 from projecting toward front of the frontcover 320 significantly, the washing machine stand 100 can have a secureand neat exterior while an overall volume of the stand 100 is not madelarge.

[0105] That is, if the recess is not formed in the middle part of thefront cover 2 b, it is required to for the handle 330 to project forwardof the front cover 320 for forming a gap for holding the handle, to makean entire volume of the drawer 300, and to bump against other thing, afoot or a leg of the user, thereby causing damage to the handle orinjury of the user.

[0106] Above structure enables rigid fastening of the handle 330 and thefront cover 320 to each other. That is, by fastening the screws ‘S’ fromrear of the front cover 320 in a state the seating parts 331 a of thehandle 330 are seated on the seating recessed 321 of the front coverwith the fixing projections 331 b inserted in the fixing holes 332respectively, and the fastening projections 331 c of the handle isinserted in the pass through holes in the front cover 320, the handle330 is mounted to the front cover 320.

[0107] It is preferable that rear ends of the pass through holes 323,i.e., circumferences of entrances 323 a where the screws ‘S’ are to beinserted are recessed forward, so as not to project the screws ‘S’ fromthe rear surface of the front cover.

[0108] Different from above structure, the handle 330 may be fastened tothe front cover 320 with screws in a state the seating parts 331 a ofthe handle are seated in the seating recesses 321, or the handle may befastened to the front cover by forming hooks at required parts of thehandle and by forming hook recesses in required parts of the frontcover.

[0109] In the meantime, the stand body 200, and the drawer body 310 areprovided with a guide device 400 for pushing in, or pulling out thedrawer 300.

[0110] Referring to FIGS. 11˜13, the guide device 400 includes asupporting guide 410 of a bar or channel form mounted on opposite insidesurfaces of the stand body 200 in a pulling out/pushing in direction ofthe drawer, a pulling out/pushing in guide 420 of a channel form with a“

” form of groove for inserting the supporting guide therein mounted onopposite outside walls of the drawer body 310 in the pulling out/pushingin direction of the drawer, and rolling means 430 for minimizingfriction between the supporting guide 410 and the pulling out/pushingguide 420, to make the pulling out/pushing of the drawer smooth. Ofcourse, forms of the supporting guide 410 and the pulling out/pushing inguide 420 may be opposite. That is, the supporting guide may have achannel form, while the pulling out/pushing in guide has a bar form.

[0111] The pulling out/pushing in guide 420 may be fastened to a drawerbracket 311 at a front end of opposite sides of the drawer body 310 withscrews, or to the opposite sides of the drawer body directly.

[0112] The rolling means 430 includes rolling members 431 between thesupporting guide 410 and the pulling out/pushing in guide 420, and arolling member supporting part 435 for rotatably supporting the rollingmembers 431. The rolling member 431 may be a ball or a roller, and it isfavorable that grease or lubricant is applied to the rolling member 431for reducing friction during pulling out/pushing in of the drawer. Therolling member supporting part 435 may be fastened to the pullingout/pushing guide, or the supporting guide depending on a designcondition.

[0113] In addition to above, the washing machine stand 100 includes aself-locking device 500 for automatic closing, and holding the drawer300 if the drawer 300 is pushed in more than a certain depth of thestand body 200, and maintaining a state the drawer 300 is held unless anexternal force higher than a certain level is applied thereto.

[0114] Referring to FIGS. 14A to 14C, the self-locking device 500includes a holding member 510 fitted to the supporting guide 410, and ahook assembly 520 fitted to the pulling out/pushing in guide forengagement with the holding member 510 if the drawer 300 is pushed inthe stand body 200 more than a certain depth, to close the drawer 300automatically, and disengagement from the holding member 510 to open thedrawer if the drawer 300 is pulled with an external force higher than acertain level applied for pulling out the drawer.

[0115] Though the holding member 510 is fitted to a rear portion of thesupporting guide, such as a rear end of the supporting guide 410 or aposition spaced a predetermined distance from the rear end of thesupporting guide 410 in a front direction, the fitted position of theholding member 510 is not limited to this. The holding member 510 has aprojection projected in a direction perpendicular to a direction ofmovement of the pulling out/pushing in guide 420 for engagement with thehook assembly 520.

[0116] Though the hook assembly 520 is fitted to a rear portion of thepulling out/pushing guide, such as a rear end of the pulling out/pushingin guide 420 or a position spaced a predetermined distance from the rearend of the pulling out/pushing in guide 420 in a front direction, thefitted position of the hook assembly 520 is not limited to this.

[0117] The hook assembly 520 includes a hook part 521 for engagementwith the projection on the holding member 510 when the drawer 300 ispushed in the stand body 200 more than a certain depth, anddisengagement from the holding member 510 when an external force higherthan a certain level is applied thereto for pulling out the drawer 300,a hook guide part 522 for guiding movement of the hook part 521 in astate the hook part 521 is engaged with the holding member 510, andguiding the hook part 521 to disengage from the holding member 510 whenthe drawer 300 is pulled out more than a certain distance, and anelastic part connected between the hook part 521 and the hook guide part522, for applying a restoring force to the hook part 521 to close thedrawer 300 automatically if the hook part 521 is engaged with theholding member 510 following pushing in of the drawer 300 in the standbody 200 to make the hook part 521 to engage with the holding member510.

[0118] The hook guide part 522 includes a guide body 522 a fixed to thepulling out/pushing in guide 420, and guide slots 522 b, 522 c, and 522d in the guide body 522 a for guiding movement of the hook part.

[0119] The guide slots includes a first guide slot 522 b extended in thepulling out/pushing in direction of the drawer, a second guide slot 522c under the first guide slot 522 b parallel to the first guide slot, anda third guide slot 522 d vertically extended from a rear end of thesecond guide slot 602 toward the first guide slot 601. The rear end ofthe second guide slot 522 c is extended more than a predetermined lengthlonger than the rear end of the first guide slot 522 b so that the thirdguide slot 522 d and the first guide slot 522 b do not cross each other.

[0120] The hook part 521 has a holding recess 521 c or a hook. That is,the holding recess 521 c of the hook part 521 has a “

” form in conformity with a form of the holding member 510, the form ofthe holding recess 521 c is not limited to this.

[0121] The hook part 521 has a side surface fixed to a first pin 521 amovable along the first guide slot 522 b, and a second pin 521 b movablealong the second guide slot 522 c or the third guide slot 522 d, so thatthe hook part 521 rotates in a clockwise or anti-clockwise directionaround the first pin 521 a at the rear end of the first guide slot 522 bwhen the hook part 521 is engaged with, or disengaged from, the holdingmember 510, respectively. The first pin 521 a and the second pin 521 bmay be pins or has a rotatable structure, such as roller.

[0122] In addition to above, there is a projection from an inside cornerwhere the second guide slot 522 c and the third guide slot 522 d meet,such that an entrance to the third guide slot has a form of a bottleneck. According to this, the hook part 521 rotates around the first pin521 a in a clockwise direction, or anti-clockwise direction, leading thesecond pin 521 b to engage with or disengage from the projection 522 eof the third guide slot, thereby self locking, or releasing the selflocking of the drawer.

[0123] It is required that a radius of curvature of the projection 522 eis designed to have an appropriate size, for preventing the engagementof the hook part 521 with the projection 522 e from being disengagedeasily by an external impact or the like which is not related to closureof the drawer from an opened state of the drawer 300, and for preventingto require an excessive force when the drawer 2 is closed.

[0124] In the meantime, it is preferable that the elastic part is aspring 523. If the spring 523 is a tension spring, the spring 523 hasone end connected to the hook part, particularly, at a side of the firstpin 521 a, and the other end connected to the guide body, particularly,to a front end of the first guide slot 522 b. Though not shown, if thespring is a compression spring, opposite to the case of the tensionspring, the spring 523 has one end connected to a side of the first pin521 a, and the other end connected to a rear end of the first guide slot522 b.

[0125] Positions of the holding member 510 and the hook assembly 520 maybe exchanged. That is, the hook assembly 520 may be fitted to thesupporting guide 410, and the holding member 510 may be fitted to thepulling out/pushing in guide 420. The hook assembly and the holdingmember may be mounted on one side of the drawer, and on inside walls ofthe stand body so as not to interfere with the guide device.

[0126] A process for pulling out/pushing in the drawer with the selflocking device will be described.

[0127]FIG. 14A illustrates a diagram of a self locking device in a statethe drawer is closed fully, when the hook part 650 is engaged with theholding member, to be positioned at a front end side of the first guideslot 522 b and the second guide slot 522 c. That is, since the springapplies force to the hook part 521 having the holding member engagedtherewith in a direction opposite to a direction of pulling out of thedrawer, the drawer 300 is not slipped out of the stand body 200 even ifthe washing machine stand 100 is tilted, or the drawer is pulled forwardwith force lower than the restoring force of the spring. In other words,if it is intended to open the drawer in a state the drawer 2 is closedfully, it is required to pull the handle of the drawer with a forcehigher than a certain level.

[0128]FIG. 14B illustrates a diagram of a self locking device in aninitial state when the drawer starts to open. When the user pulls thehandle 330 of the drawer forward, the pulling out/pushing in guide 420moves, to move the guide body 522 a of the hook guide part forward, andthe hook part 521, engaged with the holding member 510, makes relativemovement to rear of the guide body 522 a guided by the first guide slot522 b and the second guide slot 522 c. In this instance, since the hookpart 521 has a restoring force kept applied thereto from the spring, ifthe user releases the handle 330, the drawer 300 is closed fully by thespring, again.

[0129] If the user keeps pulling the handle 330 of the drawer forward ina state of FIG. 14B, the first pin 521 a of the hook part 521 is engagedwith the rear end of the first guide slot 522 b, such that the hook part521 can not make linear movement anymore, but can make rotating movementaround the first pin 521 a in an anti-clockwise direction. According tothe rotating movement of the hook part 521, the second pin 521 b of thehook part 521 passes a rear end of the second guide slot 522 c, andmoves into the third guide slot, and engages with the projection 522 eat the entrance to the third guide slot 522 d. In this state, the hookpart 521 is held in a state the second pin 521 b is engaged with theprojection 522 e by the force applied from the spring, and a reactionforce of the projection 522 e, while the holding member 510 and the hookpart 521 are disengaged, such that the drawer 300 is pulled out in afront direction by the guide device 400, smoothly.

[0130]FIG. 14C illustrates a diagram of a state engagement by the selflocking device 500 is disengaged.

[0131] Opposite to this, if the drawer 300 is pushed in for closing thedrawer 300, the hook part 521 engaged with the projection at the thirdguide slot engages with the holding member 510 fitted to the supportingguide 410, rotates in a direction opposite to a direction when thedrawer 300 is pulled out, i.e., in a clockwise direction, around thefirst pin 521 a, such that the second pin moves to the rear end of thesecond guide hole 522 c.

[0132] Starting from this time, the drawer is closed automatically bythe restoring force of the spring, and held at a fixed force, even ifthe user applies no force.

[0133] Though the drum type washing machine and the laundry dryer aremostly illustrated as an object that can be supported by the stand, theobject is not limited to above, it is evident that the object is notlimited to above, but the object may be any general home appliance.

[0134] As has been described, the stand for a home appliance of thepresent invention has the following advantages.

[0135] First, the drawer which can be pull out/push in permits effectiveuse of an inside space.

[0136] Second, the guide device permits smooth pull out/push in of thedrawer.

[0137] Third, the self locking device permits automatic closure, andlocking of the drawer when the drawer is pushed in the stand body morethan a certain depth, and the locking is not released unless an externalforce higher than a certain level is applied thereto.

[0138] Fourth, the recess part for holding the handle and preventingprojection of the handle to forward of the drawer permits to preventincrease of an overall volume of the washing machine stand, and bumpingof the handle against an external thing, to damage the thing or giveinjury to the user.

[0139] Fifth, the leg seating members on the upper surface of the standfor enabling seating of the laundry dryer other than the washing machinepermits the stand to use for the washing machine or the laundry dryerregardless of the leg positions.

[0140] Sixth, the height adjustable leg assemblies on an undersidesurface of the stand body permits adjustment of the washing machinestand suitable to a height of user, or leveling of the washing machinestand.

[0141] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made in the present inventionwithout departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it isintended that the present invention cover the modifications andvariations of this invention provided they come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A stand comprising: a stand body of apredetermined height having an opening in one side; and a drawer forpushing in or pulling out through the opening in the stand body toopen/close the opening.
 2. The stand as claimed in claim 1, wherein thedrawer includes; a drawer body having a receiving space formed therein,a front cover that is a front of the drawer body for covering theopening of the stand body when the drawer body is pushed in, and ahandle provided to the front cover.
 3. The stand as claimed in claim 2,wherein the front cover has a recess form in rear of the handle at apredetermined depth.
 4. The stand as claimed in claim 2, wherein thehandle includes; a front part that is a front of the handle, and a rearpart in rear of the front part.
 5. The stand as claimed in claim 2,wherein the handle is fastened to the front cover with fasteningprojections each having an axial direction hole with a thread formedtherein projected from a rear surface of the handle to backward, andpass through hole passed through a front and a rear surfaces of thefront cover to insert the fastening projections therein, and fasten. 6.The stand as claimed in claim 5, wherein the handle includes one pair ofseating parts projected backward from opposite sides of an upper surfacethereof, and the front cover includes one pair of seating recesses inopposite sides of an upper surface of the front cover for seating theone pair of seating parts.
 7. The stand as claimed in claim 6, whereinthe handle includes a fixing projection of a predetermined sizeprojected backward from each of the seating parts, and the front coverincludes a fixing hole in a rear wall of each of the seating recesses ofthe front cover for inserting the fixing projection.
 8. The stand asclaimed in claim 1, further comprising a guide device for guiding thedrawer to push in or pull out the drawer smoothly.
 9. The stand asclaimed in claim 8, wherein the guide device includes; a supportingguide mounted on opposite inside surfaces of the stand body in a pullingout/pushing in direction of the drawer, a pulling out/pushing in guidemounted on opposite outside walls of the drawer body in the pullingout/pushing in direction of the drawer, and rolling means for minimizingfriction between the supporting guide and the pulling out/pushing inguide, to make the pulling out/pushing of the drawer smooth.
 10. Thestand as claimed in claim 9, wherein the supporting guide has a barform, and the pulling out/pushing in guide has a groove for insertingthe supporting guide.
 11. The stand as claimed in claim 9, wherein thepulling out/pushing in guide has a bar form, and the supporting guidehas a groove for inserting pulling out/pushing in guide.
 12. The standas claimed in claim 9, wherein the rolling means includes; rollingmembers between the supporting guide and the pulling out/pushing inguide, and a rolling member supporting part for rotatably supporting therolling members.
 13. The stand as claimed in claim 12, wherein therolling member includes a ball or a roller.
 14. The stand as claimed inclaim 12, wherein the rolling member supporting part is fixed to thepulling out/pushing in guide.
 15. The stand as claimed in claim 1,further comprising: a self locking device for automatic closure andholding the drawer if the drawer is pushed in the stand body more than acertain depth, and maintaining a holding state of the drawer unless anexternal force higher a certain level is not applied thereto.
 16. Thestand as claimed in claim 9, further comprising: a self locking devicefor automatic closure and holding the drawer if the drawer is pushed inthe stand body more than a certain depth, and maintaining a holdingstate of the drawer unless an external force higher a certain level isnot applied thereto.
 17. The stand as claimed in claim 16, wherein theself locking device includes; a holding member fitted to the supportingguide, and a hook assembly fitted to the pulling out/pushing in guidefor engagement with the holding member if the drawer is pushed in thestand body more than a certain depth, to close the drawer automatically,and disengagement from the holding member to open the drawer smoothly ifthe drawer is pulled out with an external force higher than a certainlevel applied for pulling out the drawer.
 18. The stand as claimed inclaim 17, wherein the holding member is fitted to a rear portion of thesupporting guide, and the hook assembly is fitted to a rear portion ofthe pulling out/pushing in guide to align with the holding member whenthe drawer is closed fully.
 19. The stand as claimed in claim 17,wherein the hook assembly includes; a hook part for engagement with theholding member when the drawer is pushed in the stand body more than acertain depth, and disengagement from the holding member when anexternal force higher than a certain level is applied thereto forpulling out the drawer, a hook guide part for guiding movement of thehook part in a state the hook part is engaged with the holding member,and guiding the hook part to disengage from the holding member when thedrawer is pulled out more than a certain distance, and an elastic partconnected between the hook part and the hook guide part, for applying arestoring force to the hook part to close the drawer automatically ifthe hook part is engaged with the holding member following pushing in ofthe drawer in the stand body to make the hook part to engage with theholding member.
 20. The stand as claimed in claim 19, wherein the hookguide part includes; a first guide slot extended in the pullingout/pushing in direction of the drawer, a second guide slot parallel tothe first guide slot, having a rear end extended more than apredetermined length longer than the rear end of the first guide slot,and a third guide slot vertically extended from the rear end of thesecond guide slot toward the first guide slot, and the hook partincludes; a first pin movable along the first guide slot, and a secondpin movable along the second guide slot or the third guide slot.
 21. Thestand as claimed in claim 20, wherein the hook guide part furtherincludes a projection from an inside corner where the second guide slotand the third guide slot meet, for engagement of the hook part therewithwhen the drawer is pulled out more than a certain distance to disengagethe hook part from the holding member.
 22. The stand as claimed in claim20, wherein the elastic part is a spring having one end connected to afirst pin of the hook part, and the other end connected to a front endof the first guide slot.
 23. The stand as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe stand body includes leg seating members at respective corners of anupper surface thereof for seating legs of an object to be supported bythe stand body.
 24. The stand as claimed in claim 23, wherein the standbody is applicable to other object with legs having distances of legsshorter than the object.
 25. The stand as claimed in claim 24, whereinthe leg seating member includes; a first seating hole for seating a legof a washing machine, and a second seating hole for seating a leg of alaundry dryer having legs with distances shorter than distances of thelegs of the washing machine.
 26. The stand as claimed in claim 24,wherein the second seating hole is overlapped with a part of the firstseating hole or spaced a distance apart therefrom.
 27. The stand asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the stand body includes height adjustableleg assemblies each is provided to an underside surface of the standbody.
 28. The stand as claimed in claim 27, wherein the leg assemblyincludes; a leg bolt having a screw part with a thread on an outsidecircumferential surface for fastening to a lower part of the stand body,and a bolt head at a lower end of the screw part, a damping member of asoft material having an upper surface in close contact with the bolthead and a lower surface in contact with a floor where the stand standsthereon, and a holder for holding the damping member and the bolt headtogether.
 29. The stand as claimed in claim 28, wherein the bolt headincludes; a polygonal upper head part formed as one unit with, and at alower end of, the screw part, and a circular lower head part formed asone unit with, and under, the upper head part.
 30. The stand as claimedin claim 29, wherein the damping member is fastened to the lower headpart for preventing relative rotation with respect to the leg bolt. 31.The stand as claimed in claim 28, wherein the holder is substantiallyannular with passed through top and bottom, for pressing an uppersurface of an edge of the lower head part and an underside surface of anedge of the damping member from an upper side and a lower siderespectively, and holding the lower head part and the damping membertogether, when the lower part of the damping member is projecteddownward through the passed through lower part.
 32. The stand as claimedin claim 28, wherein the holder includes; an annular holder body withpassed through top and bottom for holding outside circumferences of thelower head part and the damping member, a lower holding part having anoutside circumferential surface connected to an inside circumferentialsurface of a bottom end of the holder body, to support an undersidesurface of the damping member, and an opening in a central part for passthrough of the lower part of the damping member, and an upper holdingpart projected from an upper inside circumferential surface of theholder body toward a center, for holding an upper surface of an edge ofthe lower head part, having a distance from an upper surface of thelower holding part to an underside surface smaller than a sum of athickness of the edge of the damping member and a thickness of the edgeof the lower head part.
 33. The stand as claimed in claim 32, whereinthe upper holding part includes a plurality of hooks at regularintervals in a circumferential direction.
 34. The stand as claimed inclaim 28, wherein the lower holding part includes a plurality of cutaway openings under the hooks respectively.
 35. The stand as claimed inclaim 28, wherein the holder and the leg bolt are formed not to makerelative rotation.
 36. The stand as claimed in claim 35, wherein theholder includes holder rotation prevention projections in an insidesurface thereof, and the bolt head includes holder rotation preventiongrooves on an outside surface thereof for inserting the holder rotationprevention projections therein.
 37. The stand as claimed in claim 35,wherein the holder is formed of non-soft material, and has a polygonaloutside circumferential surface.
 38. The stand as claimed in claim 1,wherein the stand body includes reinforcing members at opposite sides ofthe opening for supporting a load of the object supported by the standbody.